YMCA News Archive

YMCA Announces New Members to Board of Directors

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 21:05:52 +0000

YMCA Announces New Members to Board of Directors jeffrey.needham Thu, 06/28/2018 - 16:05

The newly elected members serving a three-year term as board directors for the class of 2021 include:

Marcus Fisher, President and CEO of Carmichael Lynch
Bill George, Senior Fellow of Harvard Business School
James Hereford, President and CEO of Fairview Health Services
Greg Munson, Managing Principal - City Lead, Transwestern
Andrea Walsh, President and CEO of HealthPartners
Walter White, President and CEO of Allianz North America
Norman Wright, Chief of Operations of Optum

In addition, community board representatives were appointed to serve a one-year term to the General Board and include:

Ann Beatty, Community Volunteer, Rochester Community Board
Jennifer Gale, River Heights Chamber of Commerce, West St. Paul Community Board
Bjorn Gunnerud, Community Volunteer, CycleHealth Community Board
Robert Thompson, Mairs & Powers, St. Paul Downtown Community Board
Tom Thompson, Regina Hospital of Allina Health, Hastings Community Board
Lica Tomizuka Sanborn, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Camp du Nord Community Board

"The appointment of these board members represents the best and brightest leaders in our community to help guide the YMCA to better serve the youth, adults, families and seniors in the Twin Cities so all can thrive,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North. “Their knowledge, skill and expertise along with their commitment to our community will be invaluable to the Y as we implement our strategic plan.”

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 162 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 29 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.

Company news: Securian Financial elects two to its board

jeffrey.needham — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Company news: Securian Financial elects two to its board jeffrey.needham Thu, 06/28/2018 - 00:00

Personnel

Securian Financial elects two to its board

Securian Financial, St. Paul, elected two new board members at its June board meeting. Securian elected Ben Fowke, chairman, president, CEO of Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy, and Kevin Warren, chief operating officer of the Minnesota Vikings.

YMCA names seven new board members

YMCA Greater Twin Cities, Minneapolis, elected seven new members to its board of directors: Marcus Fischer, president and CEO of Carmichael Lynch; Bill George, Senior Fellow of Harvard Business School; James Hereford, president and CEO of Fairview Health Services; Greg Munson, managing principal/City Lead, Transwestern; Andrea Walsh, president and CEO of HealthPartners; Walter White, president and CEO of Allianz North America; Norman Wright, chief of operations of Optum. Newly elected YMCA board members serve three-year terms.

Christopher & Banks names Bundy CFO

Christopher & Banks Corp., Plymouth, has named Richard Bundy as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Bundy, most recently a vice president of brand finance and strategy at specialty women’s retail company Chicos FAS Inc., is expected to start July 9.

Marc Ungerman, who was serving as interim CFO for Christopher & Banks, will continue his role as vice president and controller.
Piper expands fixed-income services

Piper Jaffray Cos., Minneapolis, is expanding its fixed-income services for its high-net-worth private clients and has hired Pat Toutant as a principal in fixed-income services and a manager of the Piper Jaffray private client fixed-income platform.
Toutant has 40 years of industry experience and was most recently with Golden Valley-based Oak Ridge Financial. He has also worked at Stifel Nicolaus and has previous work experience with Piper Jaffray.

Mergers and acquisitions

Acendas Travel acquires S.D. travel agency

Acendas Travel, Minneapolis and Kansas City, Mo., has acquired Travel Partners, a Sioux Falls, S.D., vacation travel agency. Acendas was founded in 1982 in Kansas City but has acquired a number of Minnesota travel agencies including deals in 2010, 2012, 2013 and most recently Edina Travel in 2016.

Travel Partners will maintain its name and remain a standalone agency. Previous owner Mary Jo Nelson will continue to manage the office.

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'I never got to say I'm sorry:' Bullying doesn't stop for summer

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

'I never got to say I'm sorry:' Bullying doesn't stop for summer jeffrey.needham Wed, 06/27/2018 - 00:00

For some kids, bullying doesn't stop during summer break. It can happen at summer school, summer camp, in the neighborhood, or online.

Few people will admit they were the bully. However, Tnanita Hatley will.

"My crew, we all thought we was rappers," Hatley said. "We was gonna be the next MC Lyte. I had the Salt-N-Pepa haircut, you know, and some girls didn't have the Salt-N-Pepa haircut so we bullied them."

It took a move to Minnesota for her to stop.

"I tried to fit in and the tables turned and I got talked about because of the way I spoke, the way my hair was," she said.

Hatley now works for the YMCA as a program manager. She often shares her story with young people.

"Having the conversation, the dialogue about bullying is important," executive director Matt Kjorstad said.

He says the conversation is important not only when school is in session but year-round.

"Now that we're in summer, we have young people that are in programs that are in the community, not just in schools," he said.
Kjorstad says parents with a child enrolled in a summer program should ask the leaders how they offer support.

But what about bullying in the neighborhood, or online, where an adult isn't always around?

"When they're out in the community, two blocks away from a young person who may have bullied them in the past, we can't stop that from happening," Kjorstad said. "But what we can do is work with our child around, 'How do I respond?'"

He says there are options.

"Calling that out is really important," Kjorstad said. "So, 'Why are you bullying me?'"

Otherwise, he says, seek a better environment.

"Go with a friend somewhere or go to a place where you have relationships," Kjorstad said.

At the PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center, there are free resources for families. You can find them online.

"It might be good to go on one of those websites with your child before they go to summer camp or start at a new summer program to talk about what bullying is, what are some steps they can do not only if they experience it but if they witness it as well," coordinator Bailey Lindgren said.

The YMCA has offered workshops, but Kjorstad and Hatley say anti-bullying efforts need to become culture. Year round.

"The girls that we bullied, I never got to say I'm sorry," Hatley said. "I never got to say, you know what, you are special. You are beautiful in your own right."
Lindgren says kids often show signs they're being bullied, including changes in behavior. They may become more irritable, anxious, or stressed. It can also affect their appetite. Lindgren says kids doing the bullying may show similar signs.

Minneapolis Public Schools says many of its summer schools have introduced "morning meeting" or some other way to build community and reinforce what means to be good and kind to one another. Summer school includes a well-trained social worker available to consult with school staff and families should incidents occur.

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Heavy Rain, Flooding Has Mosquito Control On High Alert

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Heavy Rain, Flooding Has Mosquito Control On High Alert jeffrey.needham Wed, 06/20/2018 - 00:00

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Heavy rains and flash flooding has Metropolitan Mosquito Control on high alert.

Crews are out in full force trying to control hatching larvae across the metro. WCCO’s Reg Chapman tells us what’s being done to make sure mosquitoes don’t ruin your summer fun.

There is nothing more fun during the summer than day camp.

”Lots of outdoor activities from archery, sling shots, climbing arts and crafts, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, everything outdoors,” YMCA Camp and Outreach Director Niall Murton said.

YMCA’s Streefland Day Camp in Lakeville is 65 acres of prime real estate, converted into a young person’s playground. About 350 kids from ages 4 to 14 find refuge here from school work, enjoying the full outdoor adventure is the only thing on the agenda.

“We want to set kids up for success during the weeks so we ask kids to bring lots of snacks. We’re asking them to bring sunscreen, bug spray and label everything,” Murton said.

Camp Streefland is covered under the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, meaning this area is sprayed to help control the mosquito population. Kids don’t have problems with bites because camp staff make sure they are prepared.

Parents are told to pack mosquito repellent as an added layer of protection from Minnesota’s unofficial state bird.

“We want them to be able to reapply that during the day after swimming and other activities so we can stay safe,” Murton said.

Mosquito Control has six helicopters up in the air, treating areas where it’s believed mosquito larvae may be incubating. The warmer the water, the faster larvae hatch.

Mosquito Control is trying to stay one step ahead. Experts say heavy rains over the weekend means new mosquitoes could be out in the next five to six days.

Mosquito Control says you can protect yourself from mosquitoes by getting rid of standing water in your yard. The bugs are most active early in the morning and at dusk.

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Friday Opinuendo: On ‘Sambusa Saturday,’ a topping off, a YMCA gift and more

jeffrey.needham — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Friday Opinuendo: On ‘Sambusa Saturday,’ a topping off, a YMCA gift and more jeffrey.needham Fri, 06/08/2018 - 00:00

BUILDING BRIDGES TO OUR NEIGHBORS

Our state is home to more Somalis and Somali Americans than any other place in the United States.

Minnesotans have an invitation to discover their stories at the Minnesota History Center, where the new exhibit “Somalis + Minnesota” opens June 23.

The 2,400-square-foot exhibit — developed in partnership with the Somali Museum of Minnesota — will explore Somali culture, a statement says, “from life in Africa through the massive migration that began in the 1990s to today’s large, well-established Minnesota Somali community.”

Free admission will be provided on opening day — “Sambusa Saturday” — by the Knight Foundation and 3M. Included are opportunities to enjoy a sambusa (a stuffed triangular pastry) and Somali tea, as well as activities through 3 p.m. that include performances by the Somali Museum Dance Troupe, poetry, storytelling, weaving demonstrations, book signings, film screenings and an art project to take home.

“With Somali people in almost every sector of Minnesota’s workforce, now is the time to celebrate the strength and resilience of the Somali people and to help build bridges in understanding what it means to be an immigrant,” says Steve Elliott, the historical society’s director and CEO, quoted in a statement from the society.

The society notes that, in addition to photographs and objects, the exhibit features a reconstructed nomadic hut imported from Somalia. It also offers exhibit-goers of all ages a hands-on activity that will show how to load a camel for travel across the desert.

A ‘TOPPING OFF’ CEREMONY

An important St. Paul project reached a milestone in recent weeks, with the “topping off” ceremony at Catholic Charities’ St. Paul Opportunity Center and Dorothy Day Residence downtown near Xcel Energy Center.

To mark the occasion, a crane lifted a tree to the top of the building. The “topping off” tradition in the construction industry typically marks placement of the last beam at the top of a structure.

The Dorothy Day Place complex — named for the journalist and activist who in the 1930s helped establish the Catholic Worker Movement to aid the poor — is the largest public-private partnership in state history in housing and social services, according to Catholic Charities. Its first phase — Higher Ground St. Paul — opened in January 2017, providing both shelter and permanent housing. The phase two opportunity center and residence will include a “one-stop” location for path-out-of-poverty services that include supportive employment, medical, mental health and other assistance, plus permanent housing units.

Catholic Charities, which says it hopes to complete construction in 2019, notes that:

This year through April, there were 197 full-time-equivalent construction jobs at the site.
From its start through April, the project has involved a total of 30,119 labor hours on the site.
Materials included 165,000 cubic feet of concrete and 347 tons of rebar.

OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENS

A second summer of good work involving the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and the YMCA of the North deserves notice.

A donation from the foundation is providing more than 6,200 free YMCA memberships for Twin Cities teenagers. The program, which runs through Aug. 31, was first offered last year to 4,800 kids, the Pioneer Press reported.

Teens need a safe place to go in their communities that is flexible, engaging and accessible to all, says a statement from the YMCA. It notes that violence, drinking and drug use increase during the summer when young people’s time is less structured. According to the Pew Research Center, only 20 percent of today’s 16- to 17-year-olds hold a summer job, and that rate is even lower among teens of color. The program is “making a real difference in our community by providing a safe space for youth to connect and have fun while learning important lifelong skills,” a statement quotes Mark Dienhart, president and CEO of the foundation, which was created by the founder of Richfield-based Best Buy.

The opportunity it makes possible is a popular one: Last year, the free memberships were filled in 12 days, according to the Pioneer Press. This year, nearly all sites were “waitlisted” by mid-week.

THE BOND BETWEEN BUDDIES

The latest e-newsletter from St. Paul-based CommonBond Communities features a beautiful story of the coincidental “bond” between “Study Buddies” in a program at a city high-rise.

The newsletter identifies the buddies as Bahjo — a 10-year-old living at CommonBond’s Skyline Tower complex and a student at Capitol Hill School — and Hayley, a student at Macalester College, who began volunteering this year. The agency is the Upper Midwest’s largest nonprofit provider of affordable housing with services, and its newsletter explains that when Bahjo learned her school was hosting a “Battle of the Books” contest, she decided to enter a recent favorite, “Bo at Ballard Creek” by Kirkpatrick Hill.

The newsletter describes it as the story of a young girl named Bo who — while growing up in the 1920s in the care of two tough-but-warmhearted gold miners — overcomes challenges and learns about herself in a close-knit community. The account continues: When Bahjo wanted to enter the book in the competition, “Hayley was floored.” The author is her grandmother.

“I couldn’t believe it,” the newsletter quotes Hayley saying. “It’s definitely not a book that I thought would be read outside of where I’m from — and by my Study Buddy, of all people!” Hayley grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and her grandmother still lives there.

“These are the types of moments that exemplify the connections made through Study Buddies,” according to CommonBond. “Of course, not everyone’s grandmother is an award-winning author, but these seemingly small, serendipitous moments of realization, learning and connection will become the foundation for positive relationships and habits throughout life. For Hayley and Bahjo, it was extra special to see that those connections can arrive in some very unexpected ways.”

Further, warm but tough-hearted, Opinuendo sayeth not.

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YMCA Youth Intervention Services Hosts Canoe Day Trip for Youth to Experience the Outdoors in Minneapolis June 12

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:46:34 +0000

YMCA Youth Intervention Services Hosts Canoe Day Trip for Youth to Experience the Outdoors in Minneapolis June 12 jeffrey.needham Wed, 06/06/2018 - 08:46

Minneapolis, MN – The YMCA of the North, a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, will host an urban Mississippi canoe journey for 40 youth in partnership with Wilderness Inquiry, Mississippi Park Connection, National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Service and Heartland Realty Tuesday, June 12.

Youth ages 7-24 from Youth Intervention Services, a program that supports youth facing barriers due to challenges like homelessness or involvement in the juvenile justice system, and YMCA Neighborhood Centers, will paddle over five miles down the Mississippi River starting at River Park Pavilion to Boom Island, with a stop at Durham Island to complete a service learning project focused on sustainability.

“Providing meaningful outdoor experiences for young people is a key tenet of the YMCA’s mission,” said Glen Gunderson, president and CEO of the YMCA. “The canoe trip held by Youth Intervention Services and our partners gives more youth in our community the opportunity to participate in enriching outdoor activities and engage in environmental education.”

WHO:
YMCA of the North Youth Intervention Services and partners Wilderness Inquiry, Mississippi Park Connection, National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Service and Heartland Realty.

WHAT:
Mississippi River Canoe Trip for Youth

WHEN AND WHERE:
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Meet at River Park Pavilion at 101 83rd Avenue in Brooklyn Park, MN at 11:00 a.m.

About the YMCA of the North

The YMCA of the North is a leading nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Established 162 years ago, the Ys provide life-strengthening services across 12 counties of the greater Twin Cities metro region, southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin communities. The 28 Y locations and program sites, seven overnight camps, 10 day camps, and more than 90 child care sites engage more than 350,000 men, women and children of all ages, incomes and backgrounds. To learn more about the Y’s mission and work, visit www.ymcamn.org.

Summer Harvest: Local Nonprofit, Chef Work Together to Promote Healthy Eating

jeffrey.needham — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

Summer Harvest: Local Nonprofit, Chef Work Together to Promote Healthy Eating jeffrey.needham Wed, 06/06/2018 - 00:00

Local hunger relief nonprofit MATTER is partnering with the YMCA and a local chef to educate kids about healthy eating.

"The ultimate goal of these partnerships is really to outlast us," said MATTER Program Development Director Karen Manikowski. "To really teach young people, youth, how healthy eating can have a long-term impact on not only their health, but maybe their families and the next generation."

Chef Marshall O'Brien says he learned of MATTER's goal and wanted to help.

"We teach people how nourishing is different than eating and when you eat the right foods and actually nourish your body you can perform and look your best," O'Brien said.

O'Brien's 45-minute cooking demonstrations use recipes from MATTERbox, a box of nutritious, shelf-stable meals provided by the nonprofit. O'Brien's presentations occurred at YMCA locations in neighborhoods that may not have easy access to healthy food.

"We understand that a lot these young people get breakfast and lunch at a free or reduced price at school and might have issues with access to food while they're at home and during the summer," said YMCA Senior Program Director Kate Whitby. "The Y wants to partner with Matter because we have the same goals."

Money raised during 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS' Sumer Harvest for Kids campaign Supports Matter and The Food Group. Learn how to donate here.